Warp printing apparatus



Nov. 22, 1938. o. F. HILBERT WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l T RNEYS.

Nov. 22, 1938. o. F. HILBERT V WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 W1 TNESSES:

INVENTOR: MM 1 Wilbert %ffa A TORNEYS.

Nbv;22,1938. QEHILBERT 2,137,741

WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 V ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR. W

NOV; 1938- o. F. HILBERT 4 WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 25, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Otto fifiZ/bzrb /7////////wm: ////////#m BY TTORNEYS.

NOV. 22, 1938. 'Q E HILBERT 2,137,741

WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. '25, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 E m O m ma 0 wfi n Z w m .m If. A nfil l hu l r m a 3A M r L m9 M j M .9 H

Patented Nov. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WARP PRINTING APPARATUS Application November 25, 1936, Serial No. 112,645

9 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to apparatus useful in spot printing warps with different colors for predetermining a definite design or pattern in carpets or other fabric subsequently woven from such warps. More especially, my invention relates to that type of printing apparatus wherein the warps are progressed in a sheet above a plurality of applicator rolls which. rotate partly submerged in individual color troughs; wherein, under control of a suitable jacquard mechanism, type elements are selectively actuated to press the yarns into contact with the different color rolls according to the requirements of the design or pattern, for reception of spot imprints; wherein the yarns, after the printing, are passed through a steam chamber to insure thorough penetration and setting of the colors; wherein, after the steaming, the yarns are washed for removal of all unabsorbed or excess dye; and wherein after washing, the warps are finally dried by contact with a suitably heated element and collected on beams in readiness for transfer to the weaving looms.

In connection with warp printing apparatus of the character referred to, I aim to provide simple and reliable automatically operative means for supplying the different dyes tothe color troughs in direct proportion to the varying rates at which said dyes are being used in the printing.

Another object of my invention is to obviate the necessity for repeated actuations of the type elements for individual spot imprintings as was heretofore necessary. This advantage I attain, as hereinafter more fully disclosed, by employing a brush-like covering for the applicator rolls capable of holding an adequate quantity of the dye so that ample color is applied to the warps by single actuations of said type elements.

Another object of my invention is toprolong the serviceability of the type elements, which, heretofore, were made wholly of metal, by providing them with tip portions of ceramic or other material capable of resisting the corroding action of the dyes.

Other objects and attendant advantages of my invention will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. I shows, in side elevation, a warp printing apparatus conveniently embodying the present improvements.

Fig. II shows the front elevation of the printing mechanism of the apparatus on a larger scale.

Fig. III shows the rear elevation of the printing mechanism with a portion of the automatic color replenishing means removed.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows IVIV in Fig. III.

Fig. V is a fragmentary sectional View taken as indicated by the arrows V--V in Fig. IV and drawn to a still larger scale.

Fig. VI is a detail section taken as indicated by the arrows VI-VI in Fig. V.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VIIVII in Fig. 111 and showing one of the color troughs and an associated pumping unit which forms a part of the automatic dye replenishing means.

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VIII--VIII in Fig. III and showing the means by which the actuation of the pumping unit of Fig. VII is controlled through a float in the corresponding color trough.

Fig. IX is a view corresponding to Fig. VIII with the parts differently positioned.

Fig. X is a fragmentary detail perspective view of guide means for the control floats.

Figs. XI and XII are fragmentary perspective views showing other details of the pump control means.

Fig. XIII is a fragmentary view showing a portion of the printing mechanism in longitudinal section.

Fig. XIV is a fragmentary detail view partly in elevation and partly in section, showing one of the color applicator rolls and a cooperating type element; and

Fig. XV is a detail sectional view of the printingend of the type element as indicated by the arrows XVXV in Fig. XIV.

Referring first more particularly to Fig. I of these illustrations, the warps W are drawn from a creel (not shown) and passed in the form of a continuous sheet, about guide rolls l and 2 to the printing mechanism which is comprehensively designated by the numeral 3. In this printing mechanism 3, the warps W pass horizontally above a series of troughs 4 (Fig. II) containing dyes of different colors, at a level slightly above intermittently rotated applicator rolls 5 (see Fig. XIII) running partly submerged in the dyes, said warps being held to such level by sustaining bars 6 supported between the contiguous top edges of said troughs. Mounted on top of the framework I of the printing mechanism 3 is a suitable jacquard mechanism 8, which, through cords 9, control type elements ID (in the form of bars) whereby the warps W are depressed in accordance with the preconceived pattern or design requirements into contact with the color rolls in the intervals between the sustaining bars 6. After being spot printed as just explained, the warps W pass horizontally through an elongate enclosure, through which steam is continuously circulated by way of flow and return pipes indicated at l2 and I3 to effect thorough penetration and setting of the colors in the warps. Incident to traversing the steam chamber II, the warps W- are supported by a progressing conveyor I4 trained about sprockets [5, I6 respectively on transverse shafts I1, [8. Upon leaving the steam chamber 1 I, the warps W pass to a washer comprehensively designated I9 for removal of any unabsorbed surplus dyes. As shown the washer I9 comprises a series of water pans 20, one set at a level slightly above another, into which the yarns are intermittently dipped by vibrating dippers 2| operated by an electric motor 22. Upon leaving the last of the water pans 28, the warps W are reversed in their travel by a guide roll 23 to pass over a drying element having the form of a horizontal steam pipe radiator 24 which is suitably supported above the steam chamber H as shown. After drying, the printed warps are cooled on beams 25 in a suitable beaming mechanism 26 whereof the framework 21 rests directly upon the top of the steam chamber II. All the moving parts of the apparatus other than the dippers 2| of the washing mechanism 19 derive their motion from a transversely extending main shaft 28 (Figs. I, II and III) which is journaled in suitable fixed bearings on the framework 1 of the printing mechanism 3 and which is provided with a hand wheel 29 whereby it can be manually operated when required. As shown in Fig. II, the shaft 28 carries a spur gear wheel 30 which meshes with the pinion 3| on the shaft of an electric driving motor 32. The gear wheel 30 can be connected to or disconnected from the shaft 28 by means of a clutch whereof the manual shifting lever is indicated at83 in Figs. I'and II. The warps W are drawn into the printing mechanism by a pair of feed rollers 34, 35 associated with the guide roller 2, the latter of said feed rollers being mounted on a shaft 36 and rotated by an intermittent motion device 31 from a shaft 38 which is coordinated through a pair of intermeshing spur gears 38 and 48 with another shaft 4|. Through a sprocket chain connection 42 the shaft 4| is continuously rotated from the main shaft 28. As shown in Fig. II, the'color applicator rolls 5 are arranged to be actuated by a series of individually associated intermeshing spur gears 43 whereof one is driven by gearing shown at 44 from a shaft 45. A sprocket chain 46 connects the shaft '45 with the shaft 41 which is rotated through an intermittent motion device 48 from the shaft 41. The shaft It! for the conveyor I4 by which the warps W are carried through the steam chamber I I, is connected, by a horizontal sprocket chain 49, with a sprocket shaft 50. From Fig. II, it will be noted that the shaft 58 is driven through a pair of intermeshing spur gears 5|, 52 from the shaft 36, and thus partakes of the intermittent motion of the latter. The beaming mechanism 26 is operated through a sprocket chain connection 53 from a shaft 54 at the top of the framework 1 of the printing mechanism 3, the latter shaft being in turn connected, through a sprocket chain 55 with the main shaft 28. It will also be noted from Fig. II that the rock shaft 801. of the jacquard mechanism 8 is operated through a link connection 8b with an arm 80 which is in turn operated by a crank lid on the main shaft 28.

Having sufficiently described the apparatus as a whole to enable the proper understanding of its purpose and operation, I will now proceed to disclose those features with which my invention is more especially concerned.

For the maintenance of a constant level of the dye in the several color troughs 4, I have provided an automatic replenishing means which includes a series of pumps 56 (Figs. III, IV, V, and VII) individual to said troughs. As shown, these pumps 56 are bolted to a beam 51 which extends longitudinally of the back of the printing mechanism above the trough 4 and which is supported by the framework 1. The pistons 58 of these pumps 56 are operated through individual connecting rods 59 from a cross head 60 confined to vertical movement in fixed guides 6|, also on the framework "I. By means of a pair of pitmen 62, the cross head 6| is coupled with cranks 63 on spaced parallel transverse shafts 65 which are journaled in bearings 66 on the framework 1, said shafts being connected for rotation in unison by a horizontal sprocket chain 57, and one of them being driven through a sprocket chain connection 68 from the main shaft 28. Connected to the inlet pipe 69 of each pump 56 is a hose which leads from a barrel or vat 1 I, see Fig. IV, containing a supply of the dye; and interposed in said pipe is a check valve 12 which permits flow only in the direction indicated by the arrow in the illustration just referred to. To the outlet 13 of each pump 56 is connected a length of self-collapsing hose (see Figs. IVVI) of rubber or the like, which extends into the corresponding color trough 4. The delivery hose 15 thus operates as a check valve which responds to suction and thus remains closed during the draw of the pump 56 and which opens under pressure for flow of the dye from the pump 56 into the corresponding trough 4. For the purpose of controlling the pumping of the dye, a float 16 is associated with each color trough 4, each such float being appended to a rod 11. At its upper end, the rod TI is connected to one end of a horizontal angle lever 18 which is medially fulcrumed at 19 to a bearing arm 80 extending rearwardly from 'a horizontal channel beam 8| supported by the framework 1 at the rear of the printing mechanism, see Figs. IV, VIII and IX. As shown in these figures, each of the connecting rods 59 comprises two components 82 and 83 of which the upper component 82 has a universal pivotal connection 84 with the cross head 60, and which is longitudinally slotted as at 85 to engage a pin 86 at the opposite end of the horizontal lever 18. At one of its side edges, the upper link component 82 has a lateral projection 81 which is adapted to engage with an undercut recess 88 in the contiguous edge of the lower rod component '83. Normally when the trough '4 is filled, the upper rod component 82 is held away from the lower rod component '83 as shown in Fig. VIII, with the lateral projection 81 of said upper component withdrawn from the recess 88 of said lower component so that the corresponding pump 56 remains inactive, the upper component moving idly up and down under the action of the cross head 60. When the level of the dye in the trough 4 recedes with attendant dropping of the float 16, the horizontal "lever 18 will be moved from the normal position shown in Fig. VIII to the position shown in full lines in Figs. IV and IX, with the result that the upper rod "component 82 is permitted to fallback against the lower rod component 83, so that the lateral projection 81 of the one will engage the undercut notch 88 of the other. With the two rod components 82, 83 thuscoupled, reciprocatory motion will be imparted from the crosshead 60 to the piston 58 of the correspondingpump which latter will thereupon draw dye from the barrel or vat II and discharge it into the trough 4. Elevation of the float 16 to its normal level will obviously result in uncoupling of the two rod components 82 and 83, whereupon the pump 56 will remain inactive until again called upon tosupply further dye. The operation just described is characteristic of all the pump units 56 so that the actuation of one of such units is entirely independent of the actuation of another. At the regions of overlap, the components 82 and 83 of the rods 59 are confined to laterally-spaced, vertically-aligned'slots 80, 90 respectively in the upper and lower flanges of the channel beam 8I (FigsLVIII, IX, and XI), the outer limits of said slots being defined by stop blocks 9| and 92 secured to the channel flanges. The float rods I! are similarly confined in laterally recessed portions 93 of edge notches 94 (Figs. IV, VII, VIII, and X) in a guide bar 95, which, like the beams 51 and 8I, is supported by the framework 1 longitudinally of the back of the printing mechanism. Hook-like keepers 9B projectinglaterally from an axially-shiftable rod 91 engaging guides 98 on the bar 95 serve to prevent the float rods 11 from leaving the notches 94 of said bar under the turbulent action of the dye upon the floats I5 as the troughs 4 are being filled. As shown in Fig. X, the slide rod 91 has its end bent at right angles with resultant formation of an operating handle 99 fora purpose presently explained. At its top, each float rod I1 is formed with an eye I which is held in engagement with a pin :IOI at the corresponding end of the associated horizontal lever I8 (Figs. VIII, IX, and IE1), such engagement being maintained by a spring clip- I02. Each float rod 11 is, moreover, provided with collars l03, I04 at short'distances respectively from the float I6 and lever'18. By virtue of the provisions just described, it is possible to render individual pump units inoperative for example, when any particular color or colors are notrequired b'y-the pattern, the procedure being as follows:

The slide rod 91 is shifted axially to the right in Fig. X so that the notches 94 of the guide bar 95 are cleared by the keepers 96. Thereupon, the float rod TI of the particular pumping unit to be rendered inoperative, is withdrawn from its guide notch 94 in the bar 95. With this accomplished, the eye I00 at the top of the float rod TI is detached from the pin IOI on the horizontal lever I8 by springing the clip I02, and said rod lifted and engaged in the loop portion of said clip as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. IX. After the collar I03 is brought to the level of the bar 95, the float rod 11 is re-inserted into its notch 94, with attendant raising of the horizontal lever I8 by the collar I04 to hold the upper component 82 of the rod 59 away from the lower rod component 83 and thus prevent it from being coupled with said lower component-all as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. IX.

In order to increase the color carrying capacity of the applicator rolls and thereby preclude the necessity for repeated actuations of the type members ID for each spot imprint upon the warps W as heretofore, I have provided said rolls with a brush-like covering of fabric I05 (see Fig. XIV) having comparatively long closely spaced pile projections I06, as conventionally shown. Accordingly, upon downward displacement of the warps W by the type elements I0 into contact with the applicator rolls 5, the pile fabric covering- I 05 will effectively yield, with resultant transfer of an ample charge of dye for penetration of said warps.

Furthermore, in accordance with my invention, the type bars I0 are provided with replaceable tips I01 (Figs. XIII-XV) formed from glass, porcelain or the like, capable of resisting the corrosive action of the dyes, said tips being secured to the bars by rivets or screws I08. This construction is economical in that it obviates replacements of the type elements as was frequently required heretofore when said elements were wholly of metal.

While the type elements I0 may be connected directly to the actuating cords 9 of the jacquard mechanism 8, I prefer to employ the construction of Fig. XIII to relieve the cords of the weight of said bars. Accordingly there is associated with each type bar I0 a supplemental bar I09, which, through a centrally pivoted lever IIO operates the type bar as shown, the type and actuating bar couples being confined in one direction between laterally-spaced eye beams III on the framework 1 of the printing mechanism, and in the other direction by intervening spacing rods indicated at II2.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In warp printing apparatus, printing mechanism including a series of troughs for dyes of different colors, applicator rolls running partly submerged in the troughs, type elements for depressing the warps in contact with the rolls, jacquard mechanism for controlling the type elements, and means for progressing the warps; automatic pumping means for supplying the dyes as needed from separate sources of supply; a treating chamber through which the warps are passed after printing, said chamber enclosing a conveyor for the warps; means for washing the excess dyes from the warps after treatment in the treating chamber; means for drying the warps after washing; means for beaming the dried warps; and a power shaft from which the printing mechanism, the automatic pumping means, the conveyor, and the beaming mechanism are all directly actuated.

2. In warp printing apparatus, printing mechanism including a series of troughs for dyes of different colors, applicator rolls running partly submerged in the trough, type elements for moving the warps into contact with the rolls, jacqard mechanism for controlling the type elements, and means for progressing the warps; automatic pumping means at the back of the printing mechanism for supplying the dyes as needed from separate sources of supply; a horizontal treating chamber in series with the printing mechanism, through which the wraps are passed after print ing, said chamber enclosing a conveyor for the warps; means for washing the excess dye from the warps after treatment in the treating chamber, arranged in series with the latter and with the printing mechanism; means for drying the warps after washing and means for beaming the dried warps to which the warps are passed by progression in a reverse direction, said drying and beaming means being serially arranged above the treating chamber; and a power shaft associated with the printing mechanism from which the auto- 15 matic pumping means, the conveyor, and the beaming mechanism are all directly actuated.

3. In warp printing apparatus of the character described, printing mechanism including a series of troughs containing dyes of different colors, means for progressing the warps, means for spot printing the warps with the dyes, and automatic means for supplying the dyes to the troughs as needed from separate sources of sup- Div- 4. In warp printing apparatus of the character described, printing mechanism including a series of throughs containing dyes of diiferent colors, means for progressing the warps, and means for printing the warps with the dyes; and means for supplying the dyes to the troughs comprising a series of pumps individual to the troughs and connected with separate sources of supply; means for actuating the pumps, and automatic means for connecting and disconnecting the individual pumps to and from the actuating means so as to maintain a constant level of the dyes in the corresponding troughs.

5. In warp printing apparatus of the character described, printing mechanism including a series of troughs containing dyes of different colors, means for progressing the warps, and means for printing the warps with the dyes; and means for supplying the dyes to the troughs comprising a series of pumps individual'to the troughs andconnected with separate sources of supply, means for actuating the pumps, and means operated by floats in the troughs for automatically connecting and disconnecting the individual pumps to and from the actuating means so as to maintain a constant level of the dyes in said troughs.

6. In warp printing apparatus of the character described, printing mechanism including a series of troughs containing dyes of difierent colors, means for progressing the warps, and means for printing the warps with the dyes; means for supplying the dyes to the troughs, comprising a series of pumps individual to the troughs and connected with separate sources of supply, a reciprocating cross head, individual rods by which the pumps are actuated from the cross head, each of said rods having two interengageable components, and automatic means for engaging and disengaging the rod components in order to control the pumps and thereby maintain a constant level of the dyes in the corresponding troughs. I

'7. In warp printing apparatus of the character described, printing mechanism including a series of troughs containing dyes of different colors;

,means for progressing the warps, and means for printing the warps with the dyes; and means for supplying the dyes to the troughs comprising a series of pumps individual to the troughs and connected with separate sources of supply, a reciprocating cross head, individualrods by which the pumps "are actuated from the cross head, each of 'said rods having two interengageable components, and means operated by individual floats in the troughs for automatically 'engaging and disengaging said rod components to control the corresponding pumps and thereby maintain a constant level of the dyes in the troughs.

8. In warp printing apparatus of the character described, printing mechanism including a series of troughs containing dyes of different colors, means for progressing the warps, and means for printing the warps with the dyes; and means for supplying the dyes to the troughs, comprising a series of pumps individual to the troughs and connected with individual sources of supply, a self-collapsible delivery hose constituting a check valve for each pump, means for actuating the pumps, and automatic means for connecting and disconnecting the individual pumps to and from the actuating means so that a constant level of the dyes is maintained in the corresponding troughs.

9. In warp printing apparatus of the character described, printing mechanisms including a series of troughs containing dyes of difierent colors, means for progressing the warps, and means for printing. the wraps with the dyes; means for supplying the dyes to thetroughs comprising a series of pumps individual to the troughs and connected with separate sources of supply; means for actuating the pumps, automatic means for connecting and disconnecting individual pumps to and fromthe actuating means so that a constant level of the dyes is maintained in the corresponding troughs; and means whereby individual pumps may be rendered idle to the exclusion of others.

OTTO F. HILBERT. 

